The need for The Pointer Newspapers to have its own printing press has been reiterated.
The Delta State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza said this when he led the management team of the ministry and its parastatals to defend the 2025 Budget proposals before the House Committee on Information.
Dr. Osuoza noted that it would be economically wise if The Pointer started printing using its own press, arguing that the present state where its competitor does the printing would does not augur well for state-owned media outfit. The information commissioner also made a case for the two broadcast stations, DBS Asaba and DRTV Warri to be adequately equipped for optimal service delivery.
He stated that the signals of the station in Asaba needed to be boosted due to the low-lying nature of Asaba, adding that the maintenance of the transmitter at Ubulu Uku remained strategic due to the high topography of the town.
Osuoza said that the Warri station’s challenge of transmitters, both for radio and television arms, needed to be looked into to also boost the signals of the station.
On the budget performance of the ministry in the 2024 fiscal year, the commissioner said that it achieved 96.15 per cent in the non-regular overhead.
He attributed the impressive performance to the timely release of funds for recurrent expenses by the Government of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
Present at the budget defense were the Functioning Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Mrs. Theresa Oliko, the Chairmen of The Pointer Newspapers and DBS Asaba, Dr. Ebenezer Okorodudu, and Hon. Austin Chikeze respectively.
Also present were the General Manager of DBS Asaba, Mrs. Christine Emetulu, and the Acting General Manager of The Pointer, Mr. Godfrey Ubaka, as well as Directors in the Ministry of Information.
